small misconceptions arising from human infirmity, for after all is said, we are but poor creatures, slow of comprehension, and weak of faith; but the times were against us, for the old enemy broke in furiously upon us, soon after our Lord left us, and I verily believe would not have left one stone upon another of this our house, had he had his way. This was however overruled, and we were looking for better times, when the enemy changed his politics, and spoke us fair, and then it was that Mr. Fitz-Adam and Madame le Monde got installed among us, and here they have been ever since. Well, these were scarcely set in their seats of temporary authority, before Father Peter, who was a man of whom I had no suspicions at first, began to set up his pretensions, insisting that he was the man, and there was none else beside him, and pretending from a certain passage in our Lord's letters, which have no more to do with him than they have with me or any other man now in the house, that the Lord had given him the rule and dominion over the minds of all his servants. Now his credentials were false, inasmuch as he could not prove himself to be the person to whom the passage referred. Indeed it was well known that he was not the person, but a much younger man, although he had taken his

1

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Matt. xvi. 18.

name; however it suited the steward and housekeeper to uphold him, for he was the best friend they ever had during the time of his power; and if they found ease and security in their velvet cushions, it was as much owing to him as to any other cause, that is, in reference to second causes; for after all, it is only by the sufferance of our Master that they are where they are, and not in the dungeon prepared for such as shall be found rebels in the last day.1 But you would hardly believe, my good nephew, when I tell you, to what an extent this Father Peter carried his authority in the days of his exaltation. It was more then than a servant's life was worth to doubt his perfectability, or to refuse any of his dogmas, or to neglect any of the forms or ceremonies which he instituted. At that period we who refused to submit to his decrees were thrust into holes and corners, from which if we dared to come out, we were cast into dungeons, and made to eat corrupt food, and drink waters which had been fouled, or exposed to ordeals by fire, so that had we not enjoyed the assured hope of final happiness in our Lord, we should have been of all men most miserable. But our Lord be thanked, this

1 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Rev. XX. 10.

2 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." 1 Cor. xv. 19.

tyranny of Father Peter is passed away from us, though it is still exercised over the minds of those who as yet have not been able to throw off his authority; but he cannot now as before-time subject us to the cruel bodily torments which he once inflicted. The time was when he had quite shut up the doctor's chapel, and when I was compelled to conceal my Lord's letters, lest he should destroy them; but this tyranny is overpast, and although other evils have arisen in the house, yet they are of a nature much more easily to be endured by one desiring to be quiet than those which have gone before. But,' continued my uncle, the error on which the Father built his pretensions, is one which is still entertained by too many amongst us, and is now at this very time held by the worthy Doctor himself, though in a modified form; and it is this -that our Lord having in his letter promised to his faithful servants, a glorious and triumphant season to be enjoyed in this place,' we have applied these promises to the present state of things, instead of referring them to the period of the second coming: as if it were possible for

"In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city: salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever, for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Isaiah xxvi. 1—4.

the bride to rejoice in the absence of the bridegroom, or for the wife to be glad when her husband was far away. Are these things according to the order of nature? and argues it not a want of loyalty to suppose that a royal residence should be gay, when the king is absent? But our king is not only absent, another king rules for a while in his place, and is permitted so to do by a superior power, for reasons which we can only partly understand, but which we shall know hereafter." Hence, I often tell our good Doctor when he speaks of the superior order of things to be brought about by his efforts, and those of some other of the faithful servants of the Lord, in cooperation with the Interpreter,-Beware of this opinion, for whilst you hold it, little as you suspect it, you are not altogether free from the error of Father Peter. You have changed the actors, indeed, in the work which you and he are presuming on your ability to perform, but you are equally guilty of the same presumption, and err alike in exalting your fellow-servants, and derogating from the honour of the Master.'

And how does the Doctor take these home pushes from you, sir?' I asked.

"And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast." Matt. ix. 15.

2 "Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." John xiii. 7.

'Why he does not like them,' he replied, turning towards me with a smile on his lips, these home thrusts are not pleasing to flesh and blood; but the Doctor is a true servant of the Master, and he will assuredly be brought to the truth in good time; for he does not reject the Master's letters, but acknowledges that they are the only guide by which any servant in this house should direct his steps.'

We were walking slowly along the cloister, and there was before us a wide folding-door, which was closed, and from whence voices issued. My uncle stopped for a few moments, and said, Before we enter there, permit me to explain one fact to you: you will be astonished at what you will see within; there is much to attract the eye and charm the senses in the services within the sphere of the Father's jurisdiction, and much which is arranged for the delight of the eye, and the fascination of the senses; but there is one thing, good nephew, which you must understand, viz. that many of our Lord's promises are couched in figurative terms, in order that under these figures we, whose trust is in him, may be able to understand that which the enemy will not comprehend. These figures

1 "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." Luke viii. 10.